Hinged type of closure seal



Sept. 25, 1956 E. s. TUPPER HINGED TYPE OF CLOSURE SEAL.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 26, 1952.

EARLS. 'TUPPER IN VEN TOR.

Sept. 25, 1956 E. s. TUPPER HINGED TYPE OF CLOSURE SEAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 26, 1952 IN VEN TOR. EARL 6. TUPPER ,Aff'flflff United States Patent Office HINGED TYPE OF CLOSURE SEAL Earl S. Tupper, Upton, Mass.

Application December 26, 1952, Serial No. 327,957

4 Claims. (Cl. 150-.5)

This invention relates generally to a hinge and swiveltype of seal which is adapted to serve as a closure for necks of bottles or vessels and for spouts on containers.

The invention has particular application to a hinge and swivel-type of closure applicable to a spout formed on the Wall of the main seal for a container.

The assembly in parts utilizes the structure described and claimed in U. S. Patent No. 2,487,400 granted to the applicant herein on November 8, 1949.

Essentially, the hinged and swivellable seal assembly comprises a closure member of polyethylene or other plastic having similar physical characteristics and a neck or a vessel having a spout on a wall thereof. Thespout is preferably, but not exclusively, also made of polyethylene or other plastic having similar physical characteristics to enable a live seal to take place between the closure member and the spout lip.

Accordingly, the main object of the invention resides in the provision of a closure member for a neck spout of a vessel, which is operable on a hinge and which is also swivellable in relationship to the neck or spout; the said closure member being capable of serving as a closure member for any useful type of vessel such as a beverage shaker and dispenser, a dispensing device, a drinking cup, a tumbler, a baby bott1e,a canister, a food holder, a fluid package and the like.

Another object of the invention resides in the utilization in conjunction with specified structure of a material such as polyethylene or other plastic having similar characteristics comprising a rubber-like thermal plastic composition which does not absorb and is not readily wetted by water, is odorless, resistant to acids, solvents and other chemicals, will not soften at ordinary temperatures, is unbreakable, has. flexibility and elasticity with a slow rate of recovery, is frictional and waxy to the touch; is light in weight, is unaffected at working temperatures and afiords a sterile medium for and consequently is resistant to mildews, micro-organisms and insects.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a hinged and swivellable closure member operable in conjunction with a vessel neck or spout which is moldable by compression or injection in all its parts and which is economical to manufacture, is removable, durable, easy to clean and efiicient in operation.

Other incidental features of the invention will hereinafter appear in the progress of the disclosure and as pointed out in the appended claims.

Accompanying this specification are forms of the invention wherein: s

Figure 1 is a View in perspective of the hinged and swivellable closure member as applied to a spout on the wall of a fiat cover member for a container, the container being shown in phantom lines.

Figure 2 is an exploded view in perspective of the flat cover of the container and having a spout formed therein, the closure member and a mounting device for the closure member engageable with said spout.

drawings showing Patented Sept. 25, 1956 Figure 3 is a sectional view of Figure. 1 diametrically across the flat cover and across the closure member.

Figure 4 is a partial view in perspective, partly in section, showing operation of the hinged spout closure member in conjunction with a vessel having a flat cover.

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of the closure member shown in conjunction with the flat cover wherein the closure member is in the process of being inserted in the mounting member engaged to the spout.

Figure 6 is a view in perspective showing the closure member applied to the mounting device at a different angle as compared with Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a partial view in perspective of a modified form of a hinged mounting means for the closure member as applied to a spout situated on the flat cover of a vessel.

In accordance with the invention and in accordance with the preferred forms shown, numeral 10 indicates a vessel which may be of any type having a top closure wall 11 and a spout 18. Vessel or container 10 may be used for household, commercial or any other purposes wherein a pouring neck is required and wherein the neck is capable of receiving both a closure member and a mounting device swivellably applicable to the neck and to which the closure member is removably and hingedly secured.

As shown and discussed, the neck or spout indicated by numeral 18 forms the top opening of a vessel, or may form as shown the opening of a flat type of main cover for the vessel, said cover being indicated generally by letter A.

Cover A is comprised of a main wall designated by numeral 11 and an upwardly extending peripheral rim generally indicated by numeral 12, the said rim being formed of an inverted groove having an inner wall 13, a spaced outer wall 14, a top connecting wall 15 and a portion 16 offset from the base of outer Wall 14, said rim 12 being adapted to engage the upper edge of container 10, j

the said edge as shown being expanded in the form of a bead 17. a

Cover A when made of polyethylene or other substance having similar physical characteristics has been described in applicants prior Patent No. 2,487,400 dated November 8, 1949 as mentioned.

The spout or neck indicated by numeral 18 may form the top terminal of a bottle or vessel, but as shown forms the spout surrounding an opening 19 in wall 11 of cover A and as shown is upwardly and outwardly inclined.

It is in connection with a vessel or bottle neck such as spout 18, whether the walls thereof are inclined or not, that the closure member, the subject matter of the invention herein, is applicable.

Thus, the closure member consists of a central wall 20a and a peripheral and upwardly extending and inverted grooved rim formed of an inner wall 26, an outer wall 21, a top connecting wall 22 and an outwardly extending flange 23 extending from the lower edge of outer wall 21. Flange 23 at opposite diametric points has a tab projection 24 and an extension 25 carrying a raised bracket platform 25a. The latter at its free edge ends in a cylindrical rod 26 which projects from each of side edges of bracket platform 25a as best shown in Figure 2.

It is to be noted that the sealing by the closure member described is effected at the upper portion of the inside of outer wall 21, and the inside of top wall 22 with respect to the wall of spout 18 and thatthe outer diameter of spout wall 18 is greater than the inner diameter of wall 21 whereby a sealing engagement is insured between the closure member and the spout wall 18. Where the spout wall 18 is. also made of polyethylene or substance having similar physical characteristics as the closure member, a live seal is eflfectuatedi and swivellable characteristics relative to spout 18, there is further provided a mounting device or collar member for removable application to spout 18. This consists of a centrally apertured frame 27 provided with an extension apron 28 having along the side edges of said apron a pair of aligned lugs each indicated by numeral 29, the said lugs each having an aligned cylindrical opening 39 having a diameter corresponding with rod 26. Each of the cylindrical openings 34) communicates with top lug notches each indicated by numeral 31, each of said notches being substantially ofthe same width as the thickness of apron 25.

As shown in Figures 2 and 5, member 27, which is made of any suitable material, preferably resilient plastic such as polyethylene or a vinyl for accommodating differences in sizes of spout diameter, is applicable over spout 18 for swivellable engagement therewith at the base; and when a' cover member A is utilized it rests on wall 11. Member 27 is furthermore capable of removability from spout 18.

As shown in Figure 5, rod 26 is removably insertable by lateral linear motion into the openings 36) of lugs 29 while the notches 31 permit clearance for linear movement of the apron 25a. In this fashion, lugs 29 permit the closure member to be hinged adjacent to the spout 18. The type of hinging described permits full withdrawal of the closure member from the mounting device 27.

Member 27 with the closure device thereon is capable of being more easily swivelled while the closure is in open position although swivell-ing may be accomplished as shown in Figure 6 with the closure member in closed position. Figure 6 further shows a diiferent position of the mounting device as compared with Figure so that the operator may more expeditiously grasp the opening tab 24.

Where mounting device 27 is not used, a pair of lugs may be secured on a vessel wall such as the cover wall 11 on closure A as best shown in Figure 7. Here the lugs, each indicated by numeral 29a, are utilized having openings 30a and notches 31a. In such an embodiment of the invention, the closure member is not swivellable.

It is to be observed that the Width of apron 25 is less than the distance between the inner walls of lugs 29 whereby rod 26 is capable of rotation about the cylindrical openings 30. The closure member has freedom of rotational movement for 180 degrees.

It is distinctly understood that the hinged closure member described is also capable of application to glass and metallic vessels wherein the neck thereof serves in the capacity of spout 18 as described.

The underside of the closure member tab 24 is grasped by the thumb while the index finger depresses central Wall 20a for opening purposes. In this Way, the seal between the spout 18 and the engaging walls of the grooved rim is gradually and successively released in a peeling-off manner and when full disengagement takes place, the closure member remains hingedly secured to the rotatable and removable mounting frame 27 and is resistant to gravity.

For sealing purposes, the closure member is swung toward closed position about pintle or rod 26 and sealing is best efifected by sliding finger pressure along top groove wall 22 from the rear forwardly.

I wish it understood that minor changes and variations in the integration, size, shape, material and location of parts may all be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A hinged closure seal of resilient polyethylene or other material having similar physical characteristics for a receptacle having a neck portion comprising a pair of spaced lugs secured to the receptacle and spaced from said neck portion, a closure member having a central Wall and including a peripheral and downwardly extend ing flange sealably engageable with the rim of said neck, said flange having an outwardly directed skirt, an apron member offset from said skirt and carrying at the rear edge thereof a rod, the said lugs having a pair of aligned openings and communicating upper notches whereby said rod is insertable through and mountable in said openings and said apron member is simultaneously passable through said notches i'or hingeable and scalable engagement of the closure member with the lugs and rim of the receptacle neck respectively.

2. A hinged closure seal of resilient polyethylene or other material having similar physical characteristics for a receptacle having a neck portion comprising a pair of spaced lugs secured to the receptacle and spaced from said neck portion, a closure member having a central wall and an upwardly offset peripheral and inverted receptacle rim-engaging groove having inner, outer and connecting walls, said groove outer wall having a peripheral flange and an offset apron extension, a rod carried by the outer free edge of said extension, the said lugs having a pair of aligned openings and communicating upper notches whereby said rod is insertable through and mountable in said openings and said apron extension is simultaneously passable through said notches for hingeable and scalable engagement of the closure member with the lugs and rim of the receptacle respectively.

3. A hinged closure seal of resilient polyethylene or other material. having s'unilar physical characteristics for a receptacle provided with a neck having a rim, said seal comprising a collar member surrounding said neck and having a pair of spaced lugs offset from said neck, a closure member having a central wall and an upwardly offset peripheral and invented receptacle rim-engaging groove having inner, outer and connecting walls, said groove outer wall having a peripheral flange and an olfset extension apron, a rod forming the outer free edge of said extension apron, the said lugs having a pair of aligned openings and communicating upper notches whereby said rod is insertable through and mountable in said openings and said extension apron through said notches for hingeable and scalable engagement of the closure member with the lugs and rim of the receptacle neck respectively, the inner lateral dimension of the groove outer wall being. smaller than the outer lateral dimension of the rim of said receptacle neck.

4. A hinged and swivellable closure seal of resilient polyethylene or other material having similar physical characteristics for a receptacle neck comprising a removable collar member swivell'abl'e about said neck and spaced below the rim thereof and carrying a pair of spaced lugs, a closure member having a central wall and an upwardly offset peripheral and inverted receptacle rim-engaging groove having inner, outer and connecting walls, said groove outer wall having a peripheral flange and an offset extension apron, a rod forming the outer free edge of said extension apron, the said lugs having a pair of aligned openings and communicating upper notches whereby said rod is insentable through and mountable in said openings and said apron through said notches for hingeable and sealable, engagement of the closure member with the lugs and rim of the receptacle 7 neck respectively, the inner lateral dimension of the groove outer wall being smaller than the outer lateral dimension of the References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

